PatientSource solution eliminates manual data gathering at Ichilov Hospital

A new electronic patient record (EPR) solution at Ichilov Hospital in Israel has reduced the time it takes clinicians to access patient data from six minutes to six seconds per appointment. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) selected UK vendor PatientSource to build the cloud-based solution, which integrates with hospital IT systems, allowing paper medical records to be moved into a digital hub.

Anat Loewenstein, director of ophthalmology, Ichilov Hospital, said: “Thanks to PatientSource doctors can make informed decisions in real time, significantly improving patient experience at the hospital and reducing the risk of human error – which is inevitable when data is being handled manually.”

Florence raises £28.5M to expand social care staffing app

UK-based tech innovator for social care Florence has announced a raise of £28.5 million through a Series B funding round led by Axa Venture Partners with participation from Roo Capital and existing backers SEEK Investments.

Florence’s free app connects nurses with open shifts and provides care organisations with intuitive rota and e-learning tools.

The investment will be used for product expansion to support care in the UK and multiple international markets, and to expand Florence’s services beyond elderly care. 

Dr Charles Armitage, Florence cofounder, said: “With an expanded scope, we are positive we can help revolutionise care at a greater pace than ever before.”

Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust to launch new patient portal

Irish healthtech firm Wellola has been selected by Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust to deliver its patient portal platform.

The new platform will enable patients to view aspects of their medical record, manage appointments, complete online forms and receive educational resources.

Sonia Neary, CEO, and cofounder, Wellola, said: “Wellola’s portal is already deployed in many public and private healthcare organisations in the UK and Ireland, giving patients access to both primary and secondary care services through one integrated platform, and we are delighted to have secured another NHS trust working in the community setting.”

Ransomware attacks on healthcare organisations increased 94% in 2021

A report by global cybersecurity firm Sophos has revealed a 94% increase in ransomware attacks on healthcare organisations.

According to The State of Ransomware in Healthcare 2022, 66% of healthcare organisations surveyed were hit in 2021 compared to 34% in 2020.

However, the survey data shows that healthcare organisations are getting better at dealing with the aftermath of ransomware attacks, with 99% of those hit recovering at least some data after cybercriminals encrypted it.

John Shier, senior security expert, Sophos, said: “The data that healthcare organisations harness is extremely sensitive and valuable, which makes it very attractive to attackers.”

Missing ethnicity information could impede action on health inequalities

Health data which lacks ethnicity information can impede action on inequalities, according to an analysis published in the journal Nature.

It adds that research lacking the data can mean participants are unrepresentative of those who will receive the interventions being evaluated, such as in clinical trials for COVID-19 which failed to record or report results by ethnicity.

The analysis, by Routen, Akbari, Banerjee et al, says that data on ethnicity is necessary for the planning of health, social care and public health services to ensure they are “culturally appropriate, allocate resources equitably, and evaluate the impact of policy, with the ultimate aim to reduce variations in outcomes^.”